Party Time

Best send-off a girl could ask for:

 Courtesy of Team Haby @ MacCulloch & Wallis last year.

  Party time in Richmond Marilyn Moore as the beautiful boutique celebrated it's first birthday:

[Behind the scenes - magic bites - party time]

 Shop & window displays courtesy of the fabulous Jen @ the evershine project

kitchen table morning message

I like getting notes

Quilts (can actually be quite arty)

A selection of quilts which caught my imagination at the London Stitch & Craft show this week:

This one above was just so striking - the one below almost grotesquely girly; it had me charmed.

 This one was titled 'hands and home'

 There were rows and rows of them ~

~ All with a total variety quilted 'flags' hanging in crafty sewn rows above... Very bunting-esque.

Of course, I managed to spot the bike themed ones:

WWF Earth Hour 2012

Every year, I think I'm going to take part in the WWF Earth Hour. 

It's basically an hour, where everyone turns their lights off and comes together to celebrate our world.
It's a demonstration of energy saving and 'doing our bit' for the environment. 

Obviously one hour in a year is not going to have much impact; but it's the statement, the proof that we do not need to consume & use so much energy.
And it's just seems quite nice to do.

Have a little looky at this video & let them explain it better!

So I've (finally) just signed myself up!

FIND OUT MORE & SIGN YOURSELF UP HERE

Knitting by candle light, anyone...?

The Big Ball of Wool...

... Has been unleashed!

I couldn't wait to start on it... It was like the Hulk busting out of his Bruce Banner attire - ripping the ball band off! Well, sorta...

 It's almost a foot long (11") and it's circumference is 22"!

 Those are the measurements after I'd knitted this rib;

which is the beginnings of the Luscious Legwarmers - another from Knitted Sock Sensations I've been eager to get started on.  Yes, I did buy this wool yesterday and yes, I did start knitting this last night...

This aran tweed is perfect! The 400g ball will be plenty, so there's room for some matching mittens too, perhaps.  This is James C. Brett Rustic Aran Tweed, by the way!

Stitch & Craft London

Today was a day well spent. 

I was at the Stitch & Craft Show in London Olympia with the Craft Club. 

Although I didn't get to teach the joy of knitting to any newcomers; I did teach a lot of current knitters how to knit in the round, make socks and knitted chains!

I took one of my WIP (works in progress) along with me, which today happened to be a string of wooly links I have had on the go since December.  It got a lot of attention from the punters; I'll get some proper photos of it once the ends are tied in and it ceases to resemble an ill-looking sea creature...

For me one of the highlights from the show was the impressive quilt exhibition; covering half of the upstairs level. 

I took a fair few photos in this maze of quilted wonder.  It's never been an area of craft that has grabbed my attention; however some were just so wonderful it really was worth checking out! I'll post them up in a later blog, as there are quite a few...

On top of all the wonderful yarn, craft, bead & stationary stands there was also Mr X Stitch who I have spoken to at a previous knitting show and is a lovely guy - you HAVE to check out his GRAFFITI CROSS STITCHING! It is immense.

Not to mention the cute knitted village, the best in show knitted dogs stand & the astounding knits mega size knitting genius!

Ah yes - and then I couldn't resist a few bargains...

 Check out how big this ball of wool is! It's almost twice the size of my (modest - honest!) head...

I also grabbed a 100g ball of King Cole nylon blend sock yarn.  The purple/green/blue variation called out to me - plus it will be more durable so no more darning worn-through sock heels hopefully :)

Oh and then I couldn't say no to two 100g balls of Marble DK - it's 100% acrylic but I was really surprised to find that out when I felt it - such good quality! All of the above came to under £20 - total bargains!

That includes my massive ball of wool...

I was also rather delighted to make some new knitty friends, catch up with some old knitty friends and receive lots of kind compliments on my Cloud sweater!

Roll on the Knitting & Stitching Show at Ally Pally!

Jiffy - Lace

I  was delighted to be introduced to this fantastic paper pattern book earlier today...

Jiffy lace uses a knitting needle and a crochet hook to create the stitch pattern (?!)

I'm in love with this collar and cuff combo ~

  Here's how JIFFY LACE is done:

STEP ONE:

STEP TWO:

STEP THREE:

STEP FOUR: